Tatchell defends demoted Christian
Human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell has come to the defence of a Christian housing manager who was demoted over remarks he made on Facebook opposing same-sex marriages. (See Prayer Alert 43-2011) This is the fourth time that Tatchell has come to the defence of Christians who have become embroiled in controversy. Last year he spoke in defence of Dale McAlpine a street preacher. He also opposed the prosecutions of Harry Hammond and Shawn Holes. In the latest case, Adrian Smith, a Christian, was found guilty of gross misconduct by the publicly funded Trafford Housing Trust saying that allowing gay weddings in churches was ‘an equality too far’. Also at the weekend another gay rights group criticised Trafford Housing Trust and urged the Trust to give Mr Smith his job back. The Lesbian and Gay Christian Movement, said: ‘Trafford Housing may have acted with the best of intentions here, but we believe they have overreacted.’
Pray: with thanks for those who have spoken out against the overreaction by many under the guise of equality and that Adrian Smith would redeem his rightful seniority. (Ps.66:1-3)
Gay couples to be allowed ceremonies in church
Lynne Featherstone, the equalities minister, will say that the ban on the ceremonies in religious surroundings will be lifted on Dec 5. The move has been championed by David Cameron but is likely to be opposed by some church groups. The scheme will be ‘voluntary’ with no church compelled to offer same-sex services. However, it is likely that some campaigners will seek to push the matter further if churches refuse to open their doors to gay couples. It is estimated that about 1,500 civil partnerships a year would take place in religious settings once the ban is lifted. There are currently about 5,500 civil partnerships taking place every year. Liberal Jewish groups, Quakers and other minor Christian organisations have lobbied for the right to host civil partnerships with religious readings and hymns. However, the Church of England has warned that it would not bless same-sex couples.
Pray: that the Church would hold fast to God’s guidance as laid down in His Word. (1Tim.1:9-11)
Greek bailout vote reignites euro crisis
European stocks have fallen sharply in trading after George Papandreou, the Greek prime minister, called for a national referendum on a eurozone-backed rescue package for his country's debt-crippled economy. Papandreou's call for a referendum raised the prospect that Greeks, a majority of whom oppose crippling austerity cuts which have been a precondition for international bailout funds according to polls, will derail the rescue efforts agreed by European leaders last week that would provide a $140bn loan to Athens and write off half of the country's debt. There is concern that the referendum would be unlikely to take place before January, creating months of uncertainty for the markets. The announcement has taken other European leaders by surprise, ahead of the G20 summit in Cannes, France, this week. In Germany, a member of Angela Merkel’s centre-right coalition said the news of the referendum gave the impression that Greece was trying to backtrack on its deal with EU leaders.
Pray:for the EU as it seeks a solution for the financial problems that are troubling them, especially the Greek situation. (Pro.3:13)
More:http://english.aljazeera.net/news/europe/2011/11/201111182840767842.html
Greek bailout vote reignites euro crisis
European stocks have fallen sharply in trading after George Papandreou, the Greek prime minister, called for a national referendum on a eurozone-backed rescue package for his country's debt-crippled economy. Papandreou's call for a referendum raised the prospect that Greeks, a majority of whom oppose crippling austerity cuts which have been a precondition for international bailout funds according to polls, will derail the rescue efforts agreed by European leaders last week that would provide a $140bn loan to Athens and write off half of the country's debt. There is concern that the referendum would be unlikely to take place before January, creating months of uncertainty for the markets. The announcement has taken other European leaders by surprise, ahead of the G20 summit in Cannes, France, this week. In Germany, a member of Angela Merkel’s centre-right coalition said the news of the referendum gave the impression that Greece was trying to backtrack on its deal with EU leaders.
Pray:for the EU as it seeks a solution for the financial problems that are troubling them, especially the Greek situation. (Pro.3:13)
More:http://english.aljazeera.net/news/europe/2011/11/201111182840767842.html
Protests start ahead of G20 summit
Politicians are facing pressure from the streets ahead of this week’s G20 summit. The city of Nice has already been the venue of one big demonstration. One local woman said: ‘We just want the poor of the planet to be taken into account, and for everything that happens on a global level to take human rights into account.’ Protest groups say they are determined to make their voices heard. A man from Spain said: ‘While we’re political we are non-partisan, and we’re not anti-system, we’re anti-capitalist. We believe that there are good politicians as there are good policies, of course there are. What is happening is that the ‘bad’ ones are the ones who have a lot of power.’ Security has been stepped up ahead of the summit, with hundreds of extra police officers on duty. Protesters from numerous countries are descending on the French Riviera.
Pray:that the current problems in the EU will not dominate the G20 meeting but allow for open discussion. (Pro.13:10)
More:http://www.euronews.net/2011/11/01/protests-start-ahead-of-g20-summit-in-cannes/
Protests start ahead of G20 summit
Politicians are facing pressure from the streets ahead of this week’s G20 summit. The city of Nice has already been the venue of one big demonstration. One local woman said: ‘We just want the poor of the planet to be taken into account, and for everything that happens on a global level to take human rights into account.’ Protest groups say they are determined to make their voices heard. A man from Spain said: ‘While we’re political we are non-partisan, and we’re not anti-system, we’re anti-capitalist. We believe that there are good politicians as there are good policies, of course there are. What is happening is that the ‘bad’ ones are the ones who have a lot of power.’ Security has been stepped up ahead of the summit, with hundreds of extra police officers on duty. Protesters from numerous countries are descending on the French Riviera.
Pray:that the current problems in the EU will not dominate the G20 meeting but allow for open discussion. (Pro.13:10)
More:http://www.euronews.net/2011/11/01/protests-start-ahead-of-g20-summit-in-cannes/
Many Christians concerned about same sex marriage.
A new poll by ComRes has found that a massive 83% of church-going Christians in the UK are opposed to plans by the Conservative Party to legalise homosexual marriage, and 57% of all respondents are ‘less likely to vote’ for the party because of this move.
The poll results are likely to be viewed as very concerning by the Conservative Party, as church-going Christians represent several million votes. The poll found that: 83% were opposed to homosexual marriage; 93% were concerned that clergy would have to conduct homosexual marriages against their consciences; 85% that the value of marriage would be further undermined; 88% that schools would be required to teach the equal validity of same-sex and heterosexual relationships. Andrea Minichiello Williams, CEO of Christian Concern, said: ‘God has ordained that marriage is between one man and one woman. These truths are timeless and are for the benefit of mankind. We ignore them at our peril.’
Pray: for the sanctity of marriage as based on Biblical truths to be preserved. (Heb.13:4)
Liven up sermons
Sermons delivered by Catholic priests are often painfully ‘grey and dull’ and need to be livened up with the ‘scandal’ contained within the Bible, the Vatican's most senior cultural official said. Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi said preaching in churches had become so formulaic and boring that it risked becoming ‘irrelevant’ to congregations accustomed to the excitement and immediacy of television and the internet. ‘The advent of televised and computerised information requires us to be compelling and trenchant, to cut to the heart of the matter, resort to narratives and colour,’ said the cardinal, who as the head of the Pontifical Council for Culture is the Vatican's unofficial minister for culture. Too many priests employed theological language that was ‘grey, dull and flavourless’ and instead should spice up their sermons with graphic stories contained in the Bible, which used much more forceful imagery. The Bible was ‘crowded with stories, symbols and images,’ he said.
Pray: for all those who preach to be led by the Holy Spirit to convey the Word in relevant and appropriate ways. (Ac.11:15)
More: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/8872795/Catholic-priests-urged-to-liven-up-sermons.html
Redefining marriage could have ‘massive impact’
Redefining marriage so that couples of the same sex can get married could have a ‘massive impact’ on society, the Scottish Government has been warned. The Government, led by the Scottish National Party (SNP), is currently holding a consultation on whether to rewrite the definition of marriage. The Roman Catholic Bishop of Paisley met the SNP’s deputy leader Nicola Sturgeon to discuss the controversial plans last week. John Deighan, the Roman Catholic bishop’s parliamentary officer, described the meeting, saying: ‘The bishop said the Church is against this because it will be fundamentally damaging to society and the government. ‘If you look at the number of civil partnerships taking place it’s tiny, yet this change could have massive impact on the society far beyond those numbers. ‘Marriage is a fundamental human institution based on the socialising of children and that needs to be respected.’
Pray: for governments to listen to the advice about the vital role of marriage in society. (Pr.19:20)
More: http://www.christian.org.uk/news/redefining-marriage-could-have-massive-impact/
Secret Children
‘Open Doors’ has launched a prayer initiative called Secret Children: 49 Days of Prayer. Launched last Sunday on the International Day of Prayer, Open Doors is encouraging as many people as possible to get involved in daily prayer between now and Christmas Eve for children persecuted for their Christian faith. The organisations says ‘Who knows how many there are? We estimate 30 million, maybe more. And they come from all over the world: North Korea, Algeria, Pakistan, the Philippines, Egypt, and Colombia. With your support we can put a child through school, help them learn a trade, support them while their parents are in prison, or paying for their medical care. We use safe houses to protect them from harm. and provide trauma counselling for children living with 'horror movies' inside their heads.’ Their parents face terrible choices: between staying faithful to Jesus or protecting their children; between raising their children as Christians or keeping them physically safe.
Pray: for these children and for the work of Open Doors. (2Cor.4:8-9)